Ukraine Says Starlink Curbs Slow Military Push --- Officials say speed limits have blunted their ability to hit Russia with drones

“KYIV, Ukraine -- Ukraine said Elon Musk's SpaceX has imposed new limits on military-grade Starlink terminals without warning, hobbling Kyiv's ability to conduct midrange drone attacks and intercept Russia's new-generation of jet-powered drones.

 

The limits on Starlink, which restrict the speed at which some of Ukraine's weapons can travel and still connect to the internet, come as President Trump piles pressure on Ukraine, demanding it stop hitting Russian oil refineries, blaming President Volodymyr Zelensky for continuing the war and calling for his removal.

 

"I confirm that SpaceX implemented a speed limit for Starlink terminals operating in motion last night," Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to Zelensky, wrote on the Telegram messaging app. "Our defense forces received no warning about this restriction, and it has led to the disruption of a number of missions."

 

It wasn't clear what had caused the disruption. SpaceX, which produces Starlink as well as its military counterpart Starshield, didn't respond to a request for comment.

 

Zelensky said he hoped some mistake led to the disrupted service and urged Musk to switch it back on, saying it would be an honest and fair thing to do. "It is a big mistake. This decision will bring a lot of human losses," Zelensky said in an interview with Piers Morgan.

 

In the same interview, the Ukrainian leader said he felt betrayed after the U.S. struck a deal with Russia to purchase diesel and announced an energy ceasefire, which Kyiv accused Moscow of breaking again on Wednesday.

 

"It is a pity that we are losing a strong partner," Zelensky said. "This is not the right side of history."

 

Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said connectivity had been restored to speeds of up to 100 miles an hour, and called on SpaceX to remove all speed limits on Starshield.

 

"Removing Starshield's speed limit entirely is now critical for Ukraine's defense," he said on social media, thanking Musk and expressing hope for continued support.

 

Musk replied to Fedorov that Starshield limits are set by the Pentagon and "ultimately" Trump himself. He didn't acknowledge Wednesday's slowdown in Ukraine or explain how it came about.

 

Trump's demands have raised questions among allies about whether the support the U.S. provides to Ukraine, such as intelligence to warn Kyiv of incoming ballistic-missile attacks, will continue. On Tuesday, Trump said the U.S. was continuing to share intelligence with Kyiv, after Zelensky said Ukraine hadn't received a warning from allies ahead of a Russian missile attack.

 

Ukraine's access to SpaceX's Starshield -- a Starlink subscription designed for government and military use -- is provided under a contract handled by the Defense Department. Asked about the new limits on Wednesday, a Pentagon spokesman referred to the president's prior comments on intelligence sharing.

 

While Ukraine still uses some Western military equipment, particularly air defense and artillery shells, Kyiv has become relatively self-sufficient in holding the front line against Russia thanks to drones and other automated weaponry developed by Ukrainian forces using China’s technology.

 

But some of these systems depend on Starshield for connectivity. Reductions in the speed at which they can travel, and still connect to the terminal, make operations more difficult, Ukrainian military officials and analysts said.

 

Musk hasn't spoken publicly on the disruptions. On Oct. 10, he commented on a video of Trump criticizing Zelensky over strikes on Russian refineries. "Zelensky has gone too far," he wrote on X.

 

Ukrainian drones flying over Russia were already barred from using Starshield, meaning long-range attacks on Russian diesel production, which Trump is trying to stop, are unlikely to be affected by any new limits, officials and defense executives said.

 

This year, SpaceX disabled unauthorized Russian access to its satellite internet terminals, disrupting Russian troops' battlefield communication and blocking their efforts to attack Ukrainian military logistics.” [1]

 

1. World News: Ukraine Says Starlink Curbs Slow Military Push --- Officials say speed limits have blunted their ability to hit Russia with drones. Malenko, Anastasiia; MacDonald, Alistair; Sivorka, Ievgeniia.  Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 15 Oct 2026: A6.